Apr 11, 2012

LastPass for Android Update, Featuring New Security Options

The latest in our string of mobile updates, our release for Android features a handful of useful new settings! Included in the update is an option to logoff your account when the LastPass app has been running in the background after a time limit of your choice, as well as the ability to check your login status when launching the app.

Both features will help you better secure your LastPass account, providing you the ability to control how long your session stays active and ensure your data is secure if your phone is ever lost or stolen. We've also added an oft-requested feature: generating pronounceable passwords!

Logoff when LastPass is in the background for X minutes

You now have the ability to kill your LastPass session when the app has been running in the background for a time period of your choice. Essentially the mobile version of "logoff after idle", you can set a time limit in your Preferences menu of the LastPass app.

With the time limit enabled, your LastPass session will be terminated when you multitask away from the LastPass app and it remains in the background for that period of time. When you tap back to the LastPass app, you'll be required to login again.

Check login status when launching the app

Within your LastPassaccount, we offer the ability for you to view and remotely kill active LastPass sessions. Accessible via your LastPass Icon by going to your Tools menu, the "Other Sessions" page allows you to see any browsers or devices where you're still logged in to your LastPass account. You are then able to select some or all of your active session and "kill" them, forcing your session to expire. This feature ensures that if you leave LastPass logged in somewhere by accident, you can later force that session to end.

On the Android, enabling "Check Login on Activate" in your Preferences menu ensures that, when the LastPass app is launched, a check is performed to see if the session was cancelled remotely using the "kill active sessions" feature. If we identify that the request has been made, LastPass will logoff and require the email address and master password to be entered again.

Generate pronounceable passwords

Included within the advanced settings of our password generator, you can now generate pronounceable passwords.

Pronounceable passwords are randomly generated but easier for typing on a mobile keyboard or sharing.

And more!

As expected there are also a host of improvements in the overall functionality and performance of the app. Also included in our release notes are:

Browser fixes for sites that use local storage like twitter.com, gmail.com, and others

The ability to enforce mobile Enterprise policies, such as: requiring pin code prompt, disallowing master password saving on the mobile app, implementing logoff when the app is in the background for X minutes, and enabling event logging

Faster shared folder decryption

A number of general bug fixes and improvements

As a reminder, the Android app is part of our Premium offering, but can be trialed for 14 days before upgrading for $12 per year.

We've got some exciting updates on the horizon, so keep an eye out for more posts.

What is LastPass?

LastPass simplifies your online life by remembering your passwords for you. With LastPass to manage your logins, it's easy to have a strong, unique password for every online account and improve your online security. Get started today - it's free.